Alma fire claims life of small child

July 16, 2014

In a statement released the morning of July 14, Sheriff Bob Kendle stated that on the morning of July 14, at approximately 1:05 a.m., Tyler 911 received a call of a fire on Big Run Road near Alma of a camper fire with a child entrapped.

Wetzel 911 received this call and transferred it to Tyler County. Deputies from the Tyler County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene along with fire units from Middlebourne and Shirley volunteer fire departments. Alma EMS also responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, the camper was fully engulfed and witnesses told responders there was a child still in the camper. A child's body was found in the burned rubble. It was later found that a man, woman, and another child had left the scene, travelled to Pine Grove, and sought help. They were being transported by Wetzel County EMS to Wetzel County Hospital. Later all three were sent to West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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The fire that demolished this camper also took the life of a child Monday morning. Three other of the camper’s occupants are in the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Names are being withheld at this time. No conditions of the three survivors are known at this time.

The State Fire Marshall is conducting an investigation into this matter, along with the Tyler County Sheriff's Office. No cause has been yet determined.